National Republican., 1887-06-03

There were busy times at the Offices OF
the Working Woman last night. The
Women's National Industrial League had
two meetings there during the evening to
consider the wrongs Of some Of their sex
and to take appropriate action. About $50
ladies were present, and the way they got
through with business was an example to
the sterner sex. At the fret of the meet
ings resolutions were passed In which the
Women's League protested against the ac-
tion Of the trustees Of the Lenthall Home
in dispossessiDg Mrs. Margaret Il. johnson
Of rooms occupied by her In that institution
without assigning any good cause or reason
therefor.
The story Of the trouble as told to a Re-
PUBLICAN reporter by Mrs. Charlotte Smith,
the indefatigable friend OF the wage.worker
and Of oppressed woman generally, is as
follows;
"Mrs. DIR. Stone," said Mrs. Smith, "left
the sum Of $4,000 to be used in founding q
home for widows-reputable ladies-who
were OF the Episcopalian faith. The result
OF the application OF that money Is the
Lentball Home. 1t Is controlled by board
OF managers, who, OF course, ere also OF
the Episcopal communion. When lady Is
admitted to the home (practically nothing
but q building In which the apartments
are rented at reasonable ngures) she
Is required to sign an agreement
in which the points are all In favor OF the
authorities, aud by the terms OF which she
can be Uusted at any Time without any
notice. 1t is de facto positive relinquish-
ment Of all personal rights. Now, for some
time past the sanitary condition OF the
building has been poor, the bad smell being
Objectionable. 1t penetrated into all the
bed chambers, being conducted up the
dumb waiter shaft and In various other
ways. One night 1t was so bad that Mrs.
johnson left her room and slept In the at
tic, which, from a hyglenic point of view,
was decidedly preferable, but 1t was o
breach OF the rules.
"Mrs. Johuson Is lady whose whole life
has been one Of refinement. She is the
widow OF an honored member Of Congress
from Pennsylvania who served three terms,
and to her these smells must have been dis
gusting in the extreme. So, with two
others, she made complaint to the trustees:
This excited the temper OF the janitor and
his wife, and things were made very un-
comfortable for the petitioners. The up
shot OF the whole thing was that Mrs.
Johnson's rooms (for which the rent was
duly paid in advance) were required of her.
She refused to vacate, and action was taken
against her by the trustees. The case was
tried by Justice O'Neal, and judgment
given for the home. The Women's League
counsel and appealed the case TO the upper
court, and we will fight It out with the
last penny In our possession.
"Now," continued Mrs. Smith, 81 have q
few documents want to show you," and
she produced a number Of aflldavits made
by reputable ladies', some Of whom had
been inmates of the home; everything was
attested. To say they are startling In their
nature--some OF them sensationally So
would be using very mild expression.
There are revelations, as yet unrevealed to
the public, that will make somebody's hair
curl, and others will feel ashamed OF them
selves; the public will be surprised, and the
good people whose philanthropy has led
them to take an interest In the home will
be not a little shocked and disgusted.
During the progress Of the meeting many
Of the members gave free vent to their
feelings on the manner in which affairs
were represented as being conducted, aud
surprise was expressed that members Of a
Christian church should act In such an ar
bitrary and unchrlstianlike manner.
Another case which came up for action
was that Of member-a charwoman In the
irehsuiy DtpaTtueut, VINO On may 81 was
thrown of Seventh street car by sudden
stoppage thereof. Mrs. Smith said: "She
was picked up in an lnsensible condition
and conveyed to q neighb. ring drug store.
Examination showed a very severe scalp
wound, two inches in length, which was
stitched up. Further investigation dlscov-
cred an injury to the spine. Last night the
woman's condition was very precarious.
The car company sent physician
to the patients residence, and he
treated her for a time. Two days
after she received her injuries, she signed,
at the request of the physician, paper
exonerating the company from all blame,
and the consideration In exchange for the
signature was $40, and the matter was sup.
posed to be at an end. The woman is now
at the point Of death; she has four children,
one of them helpless cripple, aud the
Oldest less than 12 years OF age. Well, the
case was brought before the league. and we
propose to test the matter In the courts.
The woman was in high fever, and at
times delirious on the day on which she
signed the release. The league will see
whether a rich corporation can, for $40,
secure immunity and condemn to absolute
poverty four helpless little ones"